1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him. 6 Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." 9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. 10 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, "Where is that man?" 12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others replied, "No, he deceives the people." 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.

Last time we met together I introduced John 7 by showing the backdrop of the chapter. We saw the condition in Israel as one of hostility to Jesus Christ. Vs. 1 says they wanted to kill Him. This was because they thought He broke their law by healing a man on the Sabbath. And then we saw the celebration in Israel. This chapter is set in the context of the Feast of Tabernacles, you can see that from verse 2. So those of you who were here know that we went back to the Old Testament to examine this Feast of Tabernacles so we could get the context of John chapter 7. We looked at the 5 requirements for this

Feast of Tabernacles and let’s review them:

1-They were to live in booths during the 8 days of the feast as a reminder that they lived in booths when they came out of slavery to the Egyptians. 2- They were required to rest, that is, to not do any work. 3-They were required to offer up sacrifices every day of the feast. 4-They were to remember their deliverance from slavery, and 5-they were to celebrate with great joy. Israel called this celebration “The Season of our Joy.”

Then we looked at New Testament passages that showed that the Feast of Tabernacles pointed forward to the coming of Jesus Christ. Colossians 2 tells us that religious festivals are a shadow, pointing forward to Jesus Christ, so that when we become believers in Jesus we are celebrating the festival. See the Feast of Tabernacles was designed to teach us some things about Jesus Christ.

1.Just as they lived in tabernacles, so we find our lives in Jesus. (“For me to live is Christ” He’s our Shelter), 2.Just as they enjoyed Sabbath rest, we don’t work for our salvation, we rest in what Jesus did